Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Illinois

In 2006, Illinois’ mental health care system received an F grade. Three years later, it has advanced slightly to a D — which is not much to be proud about. Illinois leads the nation in numbers of people with serious mental illnesses warehoused in nursing homes. This fact casts a pall over the state’s entire mental health care system. Full narrative (PDF).

Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total GradeBasic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.

Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total GradeA variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.

Consumer & Family Empowerment: C 15% of Total GradeIncludes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.

Community Integration and Social Inclusion: D 15% of Total GradeIncludes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

"Illinois doesn’t have a mental health system. It has a few pockets of adequate services for some, but little or no coordination among them. Mental health services are shamefully under-funded, and waiting lists are either long or closed."

"The best thing about the public mental health system in Illinois is the amazing number of dedicated, caring people who work for very little pay."

"What services? Only community-based agencies provide competent service and they are under assault by ... bureaucratic incompetence."